Method for reducing the thermal inertia of furnace or oven walls

Abstract

The invention relates to reducing the thermal inertia of furnace or oven walls. Insulating modules under compression are secured to the wall and released from compression upon firing of the furnace.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a method for reducing the thermal inertia of a furnace or wall oven by lining the oven with refractory fibers disposed with their ends end on to the wall, the improvement comprising (i) compressing a plurality of modules of said refractory fibers disposed with one end, end on to the plane of one end of the modules, by wrapping the compressed modules in a thermally combustible material;   (ii) applying the modules side by side to a furnace or oven wall;   (iii) firing the furnace or oven to thermally destroy the wrapping material and release the modules from compression thereby causing each module to press against adjacent modules.   
     
     
       2. Method of claim 1 wherein the combustible material is combustible netting. 
     
     
       3. Method of claim 1 wherein the modules are applied to said wall by coating the rear of each module with an adhesive substance, causing or allowing the said substance to become tacky, applying the module to said wall so that the module is supported against gravity by the tacky substance and causing or allowing the tacky substance to set into a stable heat-resistant and refractory condition thereby firmly fixing the modules to the wall. 
     
     
       4. Method of claim 3 wherein the tacky substance is contacted with a reagent, either before or after application to the furnace wall, which causes it to set. 
     
     
       5. Method of claim 4 wherein the module is coated with an adhesive substance which, immediately prior to placing the module, is treated with a setting agent. 
     
     
       6. Method of claim 4 wherein the tacky module is applied to the surface and subsequently caused to set by the introduction of the setting agent. 
     
     
       7. Method of claim 3 wherein the tacky substance is caused to set by heat, electrical, microwave or ultrasonic energy. 
     
     
       8. Method of claim 7 wherein the energy is applied by appropriate electrodes. 
     
     
       9. Method of claim 1 wherein the fibres are ceramic fibres. 
     
     
       10. Method of claim 1 which includes the step of applying an intermediate layer of insulating material prior to applying said modules. 
     
     
       11. Method of claim 1 wherein the module is circular and formed by winding a strip of fibrous material into a spiral. 
     
     
       12. Method of claim 1 wherein the modules are first applied to a deformable former which is bent into a cylindrical shape and inserted into a flue to be lined. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 1 wherein said module is totally wrapped in said wrapping material. 
     
     
       14. In a module for application to a furnace or oven wall to reduce the thermal inertia thereof and having refractory fibers with one end end on to the plane of one end of the module, the improvement comprising a wrapping of thermally combustible material which on first firing of the furnace or oven is thermally destroyed, said wrapping being disposed about said module to hold said module in elastic compression whereby, when said wrapping is thermally destroyed, said module is released from compression and free to expand. 
     
     
       15. The module of claim 14 wherein said wrapping material is a netting wrap.